Government Dept Says Littering is One of the Causes Behind 18 December Floods

In some areas, the flooding has receded but in others, it is only just beginning.

It has been said that the rainfall on 18 December in Selangor is worth a month of rainfall and it was dubbed as a once-in-a-100 year occurrence. It was also cited as one of the reasons behind the floods.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage, however, has a different take and they went on to their Facebook page to talk about it. They said that one of the causes behind the floods is littering.

“One of the causes of the flash floods is due to the pollution of drains such as littering into them.”

“The 18 December floods has caused piles of garbage going into government assets under the supervision of JPSKL.”

They added that some people like to litter everywhere including into drains and rivers which contributes to flash floods as the rubbish can cause clogging.

When drains are clogged, the water might not escape fast enough into the drainage system and it will cause accumulation which will lead to flooding.

Some netizens in the comments have said that government authorities such as JPS should be held accountable as well for not taking care of the drainage systems.

However, JPS replied that that is under the jurisdiction of DBKL and everyone should play a part in cleaning up their own neighbourhoods.

We do agree that keeping places clean is a collective effort. It is very easy for us to shift the blame onto someone else to lose the feeling of guilt. But just because there are road cleaners, does it mean that we can litter out of our cars and on the road?

Just because DBKL is there, does it mean that we can litter into the drains and into the rivers?

It’s time to stop this habit as it is proving to be destructive to our environment. The rubbish can wait to be discarded, so, if you don’t see a rubbish bin, then take it with you until you see one or just take it home with you.

Never ever just leave it there for someone to clean up after you.

We’re not saying that the blame lies completely with you but all parties do have a shared responsibility in keeping public spaces clean.

It’s time to make a change and it starts within us. Let’s do our part in ensuring that we live comfortably, collectively.

Disclaimer: This piece reflects the writer’s opinion. It does not reflect the opinions or beliefs of WORLD OF BUZZ.

Also read: Over 600 Kgs Of Garbage Collected At Kuantan Riverside Within An Hour